High-Risk Rescue, page 3
He could berate himself when the dust settled, but right now—with a dead client—he wasn’t exactly sure when that would be.
Earlier, while he’d been clearing the garage and Hannah had waited for him in the hall, he’d contacted his sister, Everly, who worked with him at HPS. She was heading this way. Together, they would do everything in their power to make sure Hannah was safe.
“What can you tell me about what happened today?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Me? I know less than you do.”
“You worked as his assistant. He introduced you as his right-hand ‘man.’ Why did he hire me?”
Though he’d kept his tone even and his voice gentle, she took a step back, as if his questions were an affront, but he needed the truth.
“I told you I don’t know anything. I was surprised to see you in his office today. And not because it was you. Though that surprised me, too. I was surprised because this was the first I knew he’d hired protection. Honestly, it made me nervous. Again, not because it was you, Ayden, but because...why would he need protection?”
“Why would Stevens enlisting my services make you nervous?” Did she have something to hide? He wasn’t being fair. A bodyguard’s job was to make people uncomfortable.
“Not you personally. I just wasn’t ready to step into the full responsibility as his assistant. And I especially didn’t realize the job would come with danger.”
“Do you have any ideas about from where that danger might have come?”
She lifted her chin. “I told you I know nothing. I only meant the fact he had hired you meant he thought there could be danger. Although he reassured us both he was just being cautious.”
Just being cautious... Why?
Maybe Hannah knew something she wasn’t sharing, maybe she didn’t. But in any event, he wouldn’t press her more just yet.
Sighing, he crossed his arms and glanced at his watch. Everly would be pulling up soon so they could jump into the vehicle and get out of here.
One thing he knew, Alfred Stevens had hired him without being transparent about what he truly feared. He made it out to sound like he felt he needed protection from possibly being overwhelmed by reporters over his big announcement. At first, Ayden considered not taking Stevens on since his situation hadn’t appeared to involve any real sense of danger or threat.
But he had made his first mistake. He’d been overeager for that first client.
Regardless, Ayden had never let his guard down for a moment. Still, either this was a strange random coincidence or Stevens had left him in the dark about what or whom he was up against, and Stevens had been targeted.
A bomb threat.
Armed gunmen.
Chaos, and now his client lying dead in a pool of blood.
Sniffles drew his gaze back to Hannah, who’d taken a seat on the steps.
Had the additional gunshots truly been meant for her? Had she been specifically targeted? Since a bullet had come close to claiming her more than once, she was in jeopardy too and all this obviously came as a shock to her. Seeing her boss murdered was a rough experience.
But it came as a shock to him, too. Seeing Hannah today for the first time in nine years, his heart had thumped against his ribcage, and it took all his energy to remain composed. Aloof. Professional. This woman had been the catalyst to send him across the country to DC where he ended up working for the DSS.
Did she know how much power she once held over him?
A muscle ticked in his jaw. The past was the past, and he couldn’t let it get in the way of the job he had to do right now.
He stepped closer then crouched in front of her and drew her chin up. He steeled himself against the effect her luminous eyes had always had on him, and even now mesmerized him despite his effort to resist. When he saw her again today, he hadn’t been able to keep his gaze off her, which wasn’t good in his line of business. He needed to remain professionally detached per his training.
But that training hadn’t included facing the person who had shattered his heart.
Her appearance today had surprised him and thrown him off his game. But that wasn’t on her, and he would finish this. Though Hannah was strong and capable, that didn’t diminish the frightened look in her eyes.
And his protective instincts ramped up.
“This is going to sound strange, under the circumstances, but...how are you doing?”
Her face scrunched in surprise.
“Please, I need to know—are you hurt?”
She shook her head, but he knew it wasn’t true. He could tell she was hurting on the inside—psychologically—if not physically.
All he could think to say was, “This will be over soon.”
And that sounded even stranger than what he’d said before.
“No. I don’t think it will.”
TWO
Oh, why had she blurted that out?
Suspicion grew in his eyes, and he stood, then took two steps back on the landing. “Why do you say that?”
Exactly.
His startled reaction now reminded her of that moment she’d broken up with him. Pushing those memories aside, she squeezed her eyes shut and drew in a calming breath. Their shared past had no business dropping in here and now. She could keep reminding herself that. But focusing on this life-and-death situation helped. She, too, wanted to know the answer to why she’d said those words.
She rose from the steps and thrust her fingers through her tangled hair. She must look a mess—but what did she care?
“I don’t know, okay?” She just wanted to get out of this stairwell. “What’s happening out there? Can we go now?”
She hoped she’d managed to redirect his thoughts.
“I’ll answer that, when you tell me why you said you don’t think it’s over.”
Hannah thrust her hands up in the air. “Come on! We both know you said the words you said to comfort me. Nothing more. It’s not going to be over soon, and we both know it.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer.
“We’re safe here. Just a few more minutes and we’re getting out of here. But I still want to know why you don’t think it’ll be over soon.”
She blew out a frustrated breath. He wasn’t going to let it drop, and he hadn’t bought her answer like she’d thought. Now wasn’t the time to shrink under pressure. “All right. I can’t know for sure, but it’s just a gut feeling.”
He fisted his hands on his hips. His broad shoulders, strong biceps, capable hands and those piercing dark eyes should intimidate her, but they didn’t.
“Honestly,” he said, “when I said this would be over soon, I meant our current predicament in the stairwell. But your response... You were referring to something more.”
“Yes, I was. But let’s not beat a dead horse.” Okay, now she was just putting her foot in her mouth. But what happened today was...incomprehensible.
He scratched his scruffy jaw. “Fine, but Hannah, you must know something. After all, you said you were being trained to be his clone. Even what seems like nothing could be something. And if you don’t want to tell me, then tell the police.”
An uncontrollable shudder ran through her, and she turned her back on the man who still managed to rattle her.
Then something hit her. She turned to face him again.
“Wait. There is something. Mr. Stevens had planned to announce the company was going public.”
His features darkened. “I’m glad you brought that up. I was surprised to hear he would call a press conference to announce he was resigning, but to each his own. Did you know he planned to resign?”
She shook her head vehemently. “No. Not at all. I’m surprised by everything that happened today.”
His hands suddenly pressed gently against her upper arms, and he leaned in close. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I know this has been a rough day. I won’t press you on it anymore. Thanks for sharing at least that much with me. We’ll figure it out. But right now, time to get out of here.”
We’ll figure it out? “Where exactly are you taking me?”
“Away from here. I won’t know more about your safety until I know more about the threat.”
His gun out, he tugged her behind him and opened the door. He peeked out first, looking in all directions. A sporty silver SUV sped through the alley and stopped at the door he held open. He ushered Hannah through the door, quickly opened the door to the vehicle’s back seat, and she scrambled inside, glad to be getting out of the stairwell. Though apprehension squeezed her chest.
He climbed into the front passenger seat next to the woman driving. “Go.”
The SUV crawled through the alley and turned left at the corner, away from the barricades. “Hannah Kahn, meet Everly Honor.”
“Honor? She’s your—”
“Sister. That’s right. She works with me at HPS.”
Hannah hadn’t met Ayden’s siblings before. She’d only interacted with his parents. Did Everly hold animosity toward her because of what happened? If she did, it didn’t show as she smiled at Hannah in the rearview mirror. Everly’s eyes were more hazel, whereas Ayden’s were dark brown, and her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. Though Ayden hadn’t told her much about his siblings, she knew that he was the oldest at thirty-two.
Relaxing a bit, she let her head rest against the seat back as they headed away from the hotel in West Ridge, a city a few miles southeast of Tacoma but west of Mt. Rainier. Down one street she caught a glimpse of barricades and emergency vehicles. “The building is still there. I’m guessing there was no bomb.”
“The bomb threat is still a danger until they’ve searched the entire building,” Everly said.
Hannah watched the scenery pass them by. She wanted to ask where they were going, but she didn’t have the energy. Mr. Stevens was gone. Her new boss had been killed. She had to hold it together and not lose it in front of Ayden and his sister. He was practically a stranger now. And a bodyguard? Protection services? When had that happened? When she’d known him before, he was a senior at the University of Washington—and she was a freshman. A lot could happen in nine years, and they were both different people now. So yeah, he was a stranger.
“My brothers, Brett and Caine, are part of HPS too.”
Why tell her? Hannah figured he was simply trying to get her mind off what had happened. Okay. She could play along. Maybe that would help. “What do you do, Everly?” Hannah asked.
The woman flicked her gaze to Ayden as if asking his permission, but he didn’t respond.
“Anything Ayden needs me to do.”
Okay, well that told her a lot.
“And your brothers?”
“Same,” Ayden said. “Maybe you’ll get to meet them.”
Uncomfortable, Hannah shifted in the seat. “And why would I meet them?” It wasn’t like he was taking her home to meet the family, and yet, this felt oddly familiar. He’d taken her to meet his parents and that had been a bad idea.
“Because we’re going to the HPS offices,” Everly said. “Brett and Caine are both there.”
Hannah sat up and Ayden peered over his shoulder as if in answer to her silent question. His gaze softened, reassurance surging in his eyes. “Until we learn more, it’s the best place.”
“What about going to the police?”
Everly glanced at Hannah in the rearview mirror. “They’ll come to us.”
Wow. Okay. Hannah pushed away the mental fog—what did she really know about Ayden Honor’s life now? Or for that matter, his sister? She clenched the hand rest. How much could she trust them, if at all?
Everly steered the SUV around what looked like an old warehouse. In the back, a wide door automatically opened, and the vehicle headed into a dimly lit parking garage.
Wariness crawled through her for not the first time today. “Where are we?”
“Don’t worry, Hannah. It’s the safest place for you right now until we get a few things sorted out.” Ayden spoke so gently she almost didn’t recognize his voice.
Then again, she did recognize it—he’d spoken softly to her before, whispering his love to her. His softness now seemed out of place, considering the professional and tough bodyguard demeanor that he’d projected since she’d first seen him in Mr. Stevens’s office.
Hannah unbuckled, but Ayden was already hurrying around to open the door for her. She stepped out and looked around the space—a typical parking garage, except it was mostly empty, but for three vehicles including the one Everly had driven. Ayden’s sister gave her a warm smile. The woman was smallish but with a tough and capable bearing, not unlike Ayden. Still her hazel eyes were kind and caring.
Who are you people? She knew something of Ayden and his family, and more than she wanted to know of his father, Judge Pierson Honor. Looked like she was about to find out much more.
“Come on. Let’s get you inside, safe and sound.” Everly gestured for Hannah to follow Ayden to a door that required his handprint before it would open.
She stiffened and slowed to a stop.
“What’s the matter?” the other woman asked.
“I... I don’t know...”
Everly took both her hands in her own and stared at her. “Look, I understand. You’ve had a big shock today and probably aren’t sure who you can trust. But...you already know Ayden, Hannah. And you trusted him. Whatever happened between you two before isn’t at play here today. We’re just trying to protect you. Will you allow us to do that?”
“I... I want to.” She straightened her shoulders and prepared to hold her ground. She had been assistant to Alfred Stevens, after all.
Her mother’s words came back to her. You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think...
“I’ll give you a reason to trust us.” A hint of impatience edged Everly’s voice. “Ayden just saved your life, and he isn’t done yet. The police are on their way here. A detective is going to take your statement. Look, all we want to do is protect you. You’re free to walk away.”
“Just like that.” Hannah held Everly’s gaze.
Ayden’s sister released Hannah’s hands to cross her arms. “Yes. Just like that.”
Hannah could think of no good reason not to trust them. Well, then again, she could think of one—Judge Honor—but maybe she was being too harsh to think Ayden and his sister were anything like their father. Besides, the man was dead. If she walked away, she would go home but she needed to understand where the danger was coming from, and that was all Ayden and his sister were trying to do.
Protect her. Like she was trying to protect—
Mom... Oh, Mom! “I need to call my mother. She’s probably freaking out about what happened!” She stepped away from Everly. She was free to walk away, wasn’t she? Oh, that’s right. Ayden had taken her cell from her.
She was trapped, after all.
* * *
Ayden held the door open for Hannah, waiting for her to walk through, but she remained wary. He didn’t like being part of the reason she was upset or distrusting. His goal and mantra for his business was to serve and protect.
Hannah fisted her hands. “I need to talk to my mother. She’s probably worried. Please, give me my phone back.”
He fished it out of his pocket, turned it on and handed it over. Ayden had never met Hannah’s mother when they were dating. He got the feeling Hannah hadn’t wanted him to meet her, and yet he knew she loved the woman. She spoke of her often. She never talked of her father though, so he suspected something had happened there. Then one day after she’d ended their relationship, he’d followed her home. Like a stalker, he’d wanted to know if she’d been seeing someone else, and if that had been the reason why she’d broken things off. Because her breakup had made zero sense.
She’d loved him. He’d known she’d loved him.
He’d been completely blindsided. So he’d followed her to a small home in one of the poorer neighborhoods. The house had been in desperate need of a coat of paint and, he could easily see by the way the porch leaned, some major structural work. If he had known, if she had invited him into that part of her life, he would have been there in a moment. Painting and doing the needed work. He’d loved her. He would have loved her mother. He would have done anything for her.
“What are you doing? That could—” His sister’s harsh words brought his mind back to the moment.
“I need her to trust us.”
Everly’s eyes narrowed, but Hannah blinked up at him, then she took the phone and stared at the screen. “I don’t have a signal.”
He’d known, of course, when he turned it on that she would get no signal, and that she would be in no immediate danger of being tracked.
“Not down here, no,” he said. “If someone is tracking you that cell could give your location away.”
“Then let me use your cell phone or some other way to contact her. You don’t understand. She’s...sick.”
The pain in her voice squeezed his chest.
“Fine,” Everly said. “Just please turn your cell off for now, okay?”
Hannah nodded, powered it down and stuck it in her pocket. Ayden hoped he could trust her to keep it turned off. He had already experienced one debacle today that had ended in his client’s death. His gut still churned with the images and the failure.
“You can make the call from a secure cell,” he said. “You’ll probably have your life back soon and be able to turn your cell on without fear of being tracked. The sooner we get inside and debrief, the sooner this will be over.”
Right. Over. This was a long way from over except regarding his protection services business—HPS could already be dead before it even had a real chance.
